{"id":26226,"date":"2026-09-11T13:29:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-11T20:29:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opalco.com\/?p=26226"},"modified":"2026-09-11T13:41:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T20:41:20","slug":"making-waves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opalco.com\/es\/making-waves\/2026\/09\/","title":{"rendered":"Causando sensaci\u00f3n"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lopez Swim Center brings year-round swimming, energy-efficient design, and free lessons to the community<\/h4>\n
\"FLIP
The warm, cushioned wellness pool at Lopez Swim Center can be used for exercise classes, physical therapy and swim lessons. <\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For more than two decades, many community members have dreamed about a community swimming facility. In July, that idea became a reality when Lopez Swim Center opened. The center is run by Friends of Lopez Island Pool, or FLIP\u2014 a grassroots, volunteer-powered nonprofit.<\/p>\n

Lopez Swim Center has two pools\u2014 a wellness pool and a 25-yard lap pool. A removable, inflatable dome makes the center available to the community year\u0002round. The warm-water wellness pool, kept at 88 degrees, has a cushioned bottom, good for learning to swim and physical therapy. The four-lane lap pool is 7\u00bd feet deep at the deep end and has specified times for lap swimmers. The pool can facilitate lifeguard classes, aquatic programs and emergency responder training.<\/p>\n

\"FLIP
Lopez Swim Center\u2019s heat pumps were financed through Orcas Power & Light Cooperative\u2019s Switch It Up program. <\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Minimal Environmental Impact<\/strong>
\nThe group of volunteers who made the pool a reality made every effort to ensure the center can function with minimal environmental impact. The system has regenerative media filters that use much less water, heat pumps for maximum energy efficiency, variable speed pumps that reduce energy use and thermal pool covers that reduce the need to heat the pools. The system uses Myrtha Pools, which are made of steel and have a smaller carbon footprint and a longer life than traditional concrete. UV disinfection keeps chemical use to a minimum while keeping the pool clean. The dome cover is removed in the summer to reduce the need for air conditioning and dehumidification. This model uses translucent fabric over the center to allow for natural light.<\/p>\n

Community-Minded<\/strong>
\nFLIP volunteers worked closely with many community partners, including Lopez School District and Orcas Power & Light Cooperative, which share a community well system. OPALCO and the swim center have wells, the school has a water treatment plant, and it is all shared with the center. The swim center financed its heat pumps\u2014which heat the water and provide heat for the dome, buildings and shower rooms\u2014through OPALCO\u2019s on-bill financing program, Switch It Up.
\nWhen planners analyzed the benefits of using heat pumps as the main energy source instead of propane, they found they could save up to 70% on heating bills annually. Heat pumps also have the additional benefit of not relying on carbon-based fuel sources.<\/p>\n

\"FLIP
All students from any Lopez school may participate in free swim lessons.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The center offers swim lessons and water sports in partnership with Lopez schools. All students from any Lopez school may participate in swim lessons at no cost, thanks to a generous sponsor. There is a new school-to-pool trail for students to easily get to the center, which also has a community room that functions as a multipurpose space with a yard.<\/p>\n

This project started many years ago but really ramped up around 2016 with a team of dedicated board members. The property was donated, and more than $10 million was raised to build and begin the operations of the pool. More than 1,300 individuals\u2014nearly half of the year-round population\u2014 donated money, volunteered and supported Lopez Swim Center to make this vision a reality. Future funding will come from membership fees, grants and continued fundraising efforts.<\/p>\n

Learning to swim on an island is critical for a healthy and safe life. Having access to a pool will help children and adults develop the skills and confidence they need to enjoy water safely. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to get the swim lesson programs up and running,\u201d Aquatics Manager Lance Anderson says. \u201cThere is nothing more satisfying than seeing someone learning in the water.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information about membership and hours of operation, visit lopezswimcenter.org<\/a>.
\nFind out how to finance an energy-efficient heat pump at opalco.com\/switchitup<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

El Centro Acu\u00e1tico Lopez ofrece nataci\u00f3n durante todo el a\u00f1o, un dise\u00f1o energ\u00e9ticamente eficiente y clases gratuitas a la comunidad. Durante m\u00e1s de dos d\u00e9cadas, muchos miembros de la comunidad han so\u00f1ado con una instalaci\u00f3n de nataci\u00f3n comunitaria. En\u2026 Leer m\u00e1s<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":26230,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[792],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26226","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-stories"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMaking Waves - OPALCO<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.opalco.com\/es\/making-waves\/2026\/09\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_ES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Making Waves - OPALCO\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lopez Swim Center brings year-round swimming, energy-efficient design, and free lessons to the community For more than two decades, many community members have dreamed about a community swimming facility. 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